One of Bermuda's hottest new acts is a group of teen heartthrobs Secret Po-Po.

They will be playing immediately before Collie Buddz on the Onion's Stage, which is caddy-cornered off of the main stage at the Bermuda Music Festival 08.

Earlier this week, the group released it's debut album, which is on sale around the Island and at the Festival 08.

Secret Po-Po is a group of 16-year-olds, who came together through their passion as musicians. Their dedication and tenacity shows with every note and they were chosen as "Best Musical Group" group by the Best of Bermuda Awards committee. Their genres include a mixture of genres, which range from classic rock to reggae with a bit of jazz and hip hop dropped into the mix.

Throughout the summer they had a number of gigs, both regular nights at Flanaghan's and Docksiders, while they also played at a few concerts and private events.

Secret Po-Po spoke to The Royal Gazette why they do what they do, their journey and their hopes and dreams.

The band members include Matthew Ross, Matthew Witkowski, Michael Mello and Harry Dunkley.

"I started playing violin when I was four and I don't really play that much any more," said Mr. Dunkley.

"I started drums when I was nine, but when I was two Eddie Ming would let me come in there and play with him.

"I seriously started playing when I was about nine and that was with Nick Watson, my current teacher."

Mr. Ross began playing violin when he was six and played that for about a year.

"I started playing trumpet when I was about nine, because one of my friends started playing," he said.

"My first teacher was Mr. Rhodes and when he left the Island five years ago, Conrad Roach became my teacher and he is my teacher today. I'm doing Grade 8 right now and I'm playing the bongos as well."

Beginning with piano lessons when he was very young was Mr. Mello, but he admits not liking it very much.

"When I moved to Bermuda about four years ago, I started playing base," he said.

"I was about 13 or 14 and I have been playing consistently since then."

He began his lessons at the Bermuda School of Music, but he now is with teacher Brian Swan.

Another who began with piano lessons was Mr. Witkowski, who is now taking voice training with Janice Moran.

"I got back into music when I started taking trombone lessons at the school with Conrad Roach and then guitar lessons as well with David Fitzsimmons," he explained.

"I also sing in the band and I have been singing with them for about a year-and-a-half.

"We had trouble finding a singer, so we just decided that I would do it and that's how I got started on the singing and guitar."

So how did these four converge to become Secret Po-Po?

"Me, Matthew (Ross) and Michael all know each other because we all go to Saltus," Mr. Witkowski said.

"The three of us decided that we wanted to start a band, so after inquiring at the drum institutes, we came into contact with Harry and our parents had a contact there because they knew each other.

"So we got together and it is all history from there really.

"I remember the first time we met; we were just playing down in his (Harry's) bedroom."

When asked about the playing in the bedroom, Mr. Dunkley, whose parents used part of their barn for the boys rehearsing studio, added: "This was built about two years ago, but we played in my room for about six months.

"And then this empty room was made into a studio and we practice in here all the time now."

The origins of their name Secret Po-Po came from a source of the former Eastern Block's history.

"About two years ago we were in a GCSE History class, me and Matt (Witkowski), and we were talking about the Tsars and all of that stuff," said Mr. Mello.

"We were also talking about Lenin's Secret Police and one kid shouted out, 'Secret Po Po' and at the same time we were trying to come up with a name and I thought that kind of works.

"You hear Po Po on television for police and also people remember it because it is so obscure."

To help with organising their time, the band usually practices together on Sundays.

"We practice songs (on our own) throughout the week, but play then together on the weekend," said Mr. Ross.

"We practice every weekend for at least four hours," added Mr. Witkowski.

"Sometimes it is a bit of a struggle getting everything together, but we really value it, it is important to us, so we really try to get together as much as we can. It is a big part of our lives."

On the school front, Mr. Witkowski said: "We all do pretty well and we are handling both very well."

Like many up and coming artists and established bands, there's no point without having a web presence.

"We are on Facebook.com and it is under Secret Po Po and there is also a group on the same site," said Mr. Dunkley.

"We also have a MySpace site and it is www.myspace.com/secretpopo."

Aside from all the gigs, they have managed to record a single at Just Platinum Studios, which came out in June.

"It is called 'Say What You Will'. It is available on You Tube, MySpace and in some stores," said Mr. Dunkley.

On the inspiration for the single, Mr. Witkowski explained: "I do a soup run with the Salvation Army and we see a lot of homeless people out there and the song basically is about someone who is on the street, but doesn't really care.

"They are happy, because they are on their own and they are not taking handouts. You hear stories about people who are on the streets, but that is their own choice.

"It seems like a funny thing to me that someone would do something like that, but that is what the song is about."

Regarding facing the prospect of being a successful band, Mr. Witkowski said: "It's satisfying.

"It started off as a hobby and now it is more a job.

"A lot of people have helped us out and we have our parents to thank for that, they have been really supportive of us, and now we are just kind of getting to the stage where we can start really getting out on our own and doing our thing."

While Mr. Dunkley added: "I didn't think that we'd be were we are now, we are not very successful, but we are playing places.

"I mean it is a good feeling."

On the same point, Mr. Mello added that he was really happy with what they have been able to do so far, because all of their efforts are paying off.

"It'll be a great thing to be able to do for your entire life."

Adding to the above, Mr. Ross said: "When I first started, because I am pretty much the most recent member to join, I just thought that it would be fun to just play with my friends, but now we are starting to get more gigs.

"When I look at the calendar and I just see all the Xs, I think well I'm pretty busy and you start to think to yourself that maybe we can do something with this."

So, do the boys have any groupies yet? Well after much laughter, they all said: "Not yet!"

Mr. Witkowski added: "We have a very loyal fan base, but we don't have any groupies, yet, and yet is the key word."

Though Mr. Dunkley said: "I've been asked to sign drumsticks, it was a little kid, a friend of mine's younger brother."

Other bands that they are involved with include several school bands.

"Matt and I are in a lot of school bands, we are in the Saltus Orchestra, the Saltus Jazz Band, and we most recently did 'Grooving with the Band,' and that was a lot of fun," said Mr. Ross.

"We are also in the Saltus Concert Band and the Saltus Brass Ensemble."

Adding to the above, Mr. Dunkley said: "Mike and I played at the Ag Show in a Jazz Hip Hop Trio."

On their range of genres Mr. Witkowski said that what they like is that they can do just about any genre they need to.

"We kind of adapt to the audience, we can play classic rock to reggae, to modern pop songs, a Santana groove here and there.

"But that is what you kind of have to do these days, to be kind of a chameleon when it comes to playing.

"The audience is really the most important thing and you are playing for them, so if you can play what they like you are going to be popular."

Their repertoire includes songs by Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Marley, Dispatch, Jimi Hendrix, Eagles, and the Steve Miller Band, to name a few from.

Secret Po-Po will play at 7.45 p.m. this evening.